Traveling bag



May 28, 1935. MIL. LEE El AL TRAVELING BAG File'd Aug, 9, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY May 28 1935. M. L. LEE ET AL TRAVELING BAG 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR5 May 28 1935 1.. LEE El ALA TRAVELING BAG Filed "-Aug. 9, 1934 3 Sheds-Sheet 3' 20 A Z0 ATTORNEY I Patented May 28,1935 I TRAVELING BAG Martin L. Lee, Brooklyn, N. Y., and Ary Kaufmann, South Orange, N. J., assig'nors to K.

Kaufmann & 00., Inc., Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 9, 1934, Serial No. 739,084

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in traveling bags; andthe invention has reference,

' more particularly, to a novel form and construction of frameless bag adapted to open at the hottom and sides, being separably closed at such points by a continuous slide fastener means.

and having an integral intermediate top section between its side portions, with relation to which the latter swing to open or closed positions, and

' to the e. terior of which top section a single carrying-handle is attached.

This invention has for one object to provide a light weight frameless traveling bag of the novel form above mentioned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel traveling bag of the kind mentioned which is adapted to open out in flat lying position adjacent to the free end of one side section for removably afllxing thereto garment supporting means, whereby the supported garments may be laid within and across said side and top sections; and additional means being provided for removable attachment transverselyof the bag interior and adjacent to the top section so as to lie intermediate the side sections, over which the suspended garments may fold when the side "sections are swung to and secured inclosed together condition, and so that folded garments will be suspended, when the bag is closed, with the told thereof adjacent to the top section and oppositely extending lengths, of said garments,

\ disposed to respectively lie contiguous to the inner faces of the respective side sections; all to the end that the garments may be compactly andsmoothly disposed within the bag and cardistortion or'mussins.

v Another object of the invention is to provide a pocket or compartment for carrying miscellaneous articles of clothing, toilet articles, etc., adapted to be suspended directly from or from points adjacent to the garment folding means,

" so as to lie between the lengths of the folded garments when the bag is closed.

Other objects of -this invention, not at this time more particularly referred to, will be un- T ,derstood from the following detailed description of the same.

' y'lllustrative embodiments of this invention are shown in, the accompanying drawin s. in which:-

rled therein without risk of wrinkling or like.

, p v interior side witha a-perspective view of the novel travel-s ing bag according to this'invention, this view showing the same in its closed condition; Fig. 2 is a top end view of thesame; Fig. 3 is a bottom end view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the novel traveling 5 bag in open condition, and as equipped with supporting means for carrying men's suits, the folding bar with miscellaneous article holding pocket connected. therewith, being shown as about to be mounted in operative relation to the-bag in- 10 terior and to the. suit disposed therein; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section through the open bag, with the folding bar and article holding pocket in place; and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section through the bag as closed for 15 carrying. t

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the bag in open condition, and as equipped with supporting means especially adapted for women's gowns and dresses; and Fig. "7A is a fragmentary sec- 20 tional'view, taken on line 'iA-IA in-Fig. '7.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of a modified form 'of the novel bag adapted for general use. the

same being shown in closed condition.

Similar characters of reference are employed as in the above-described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to said drawings. the novel bag according to this invention comprises a main body consisting of three sections, which, for convenience of description, will be referred to viz.,- as the upper side section II, the intermediate or top section ii, and the lower side section II. Preferably these sections are formed from a unitary or continuous sheet or piece of material, such as real or artificial leather, cloth or like suitable material. The intermediate or top sec tion I i is provided or faced at its, interior surface with a stiffening strip I 3 of any suitable comparatively rigid material, which extends contigu- 40 one thereto and transversely of the main body as a 1 whole. In like manner, the side sections I0 and I! are also preferably provided or faced at their interior surfaces, and adjacent and parallel to their free transverse marginal portions, with like 45 stiffening or reenforcing strips i4. Otherwise the main body, thus constituted is preferably left more or less flexible or pliable; although it must be understood that the several sections may be stiffened throughout their entire area, it desired, 50 so long asflexing portions adjoin the side sections respectively to the top or intermediate section. Preferably the main'body is faced on its ll, of any desired suitable material, tli the periphery. of

- the form of the novel bag shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, is preferably comprised of single continuous piece extending from a point at one end of the top or intermediate section II along one side edge of the side section i0, thence along the free or outer end edge thereof, .and then back along the opposite side edge thereof, back to a point at the opposite end of said top or intermediate section. That portion of the marginal member or gusset l8 bordering the free end edge of the side section I 0 is of uniform and maximum width, while the respective portions bordering the side edges of the side section iii are each of diminishing width tapering toward the intermediate or top section I i. Connected with the free periphery of the inner side section i2, and arranged and shaped in like manner, is a similar marginal member or gusset l'i. Owingto the described shape of said members or gussets l6 and I1, the bag when closed will assume an upwardly tapered form, as shown more especially in Figs. 1 and 6, whereby the bag, when closed will be somewhat wider at its bottom end that at its'top end, thus providing room for the expansion of an article carrying pocket or receptacle with which the interior of the bag may be provided, as will subsequently more fully appear.

The respective marginal members or gussets Ii and i! are respectively provided at their opposite ends, with free terminal portions i8 and I9, which are inwardly turned over the adjacent end portions of the intermediate or top section ii, 50' that the terminal portions Iii-converge upon the terminal portions i9, and so that their extremities may be suitably secured or anchored to said intermediate or top section.

The peripheral margins of the main body composed of the side and top sections, together with the adjoined portions oi. the lining l5 and marginal members or gussets l6 and H are enclosed in a binding member 20, all said parts together with saidbinding member being suitably secured together, as by stitching 2|.

Secured to and extending around the free edge portions of the respective marginal members or gussets l6 and II are tapes 22 provided with wellknown slide fastener elements which, when operated by movement of the slider 23 thereover, are adapted to engage or disengage so as to secure or release the side sections of the bag for closing or opening the latter. Pivotally connected with the draw link 24 of the slider 23 is a slotted hasp member 25, which, when the slider is disposed, at the end of its fastener element engaging stroke or movement serving to close the bag, may be turned and engaged over a staple eye 26 fixed on the exterior side of the intermediate or top section, so that a pad-lock (notshown) may be applied to the staple against disengagement of said hasp member therefrom, thus locking theslider against unauthorized bag opening manipulation after the bag is closed.

When the novel bag is equipped to carry garments in supported and folded condition therein,

adjacent to its free end and at the portion thereof which is stiifened by the reenforcing strip M. Detachably mountable upon the post Z'i is any suitable form of coat hanger device 29, which is preferably provided with a bottom bar 30 over which trousers may be folded so as to depend therefrom. At the end of the post 21 is an upstanding keeper lug 3 l, and secured to the hanger device is a suspension link 32 having a T-slot to engage over the post 21. Pivoted tothehanger device is a. lock arm 33 having an angular extremity 34 which, when the link 32 is engaged on the post 27, may be turned to extend behind the keeper lug 3i, thus preventing accidental disengagement of the hanger device from its supported relation to said post. If desired, said lock-arm 33 may terminate, at the end thereof extending oppositely from its pivoted connection to the hanger device, in a hook element 35. This hook element 35 may be upturned, when the hanger device is removed from the post 2?, so as to serve as a means for suspending the hanger device and garments carried thereby from a closet hook or the like.

When the bag is opened out to flat lying posi-- tion, as shown in Fig. 4, a man's suit may be mounted upon the hanger device 29, and thereupon the latter in turn mounted on the post 2? in suspended relation thereto. When this is done, the suit will extend in smooth supported position along and contiguous to the interior surfaces of the flat lying side and top sections of the main body. Preparatory to closing the sidesections together, after the garments are disposed in the bag as described, a detachable folding means is secured over the garments adjacent to the top section ii and intermediate the side sections it and H as extending from the latter. This folding means and the means for detachably supporting the same inplace, comprises, for example, yieldable perforate bracket tongues it, the bases 31 of which are respectively secured adjacent to the ends of said top section H as reenforced by tion it is aligned between the bracket tongues 36 .with the coupling studs ll! thereof engaged in the guide grooves or channels 38, so that by pressing inwardly upon the folding bar, the studs 40 will be carried into position opposite perforations of the bracket tongues, so that the latter will snap over said studs, thus locking the folding bar in place.

When the folding bar is in place, the side sections it and I2 may be swung relative to the top section ii, and thus to closed relation, thereby folding the garments intermediately over the folding bar (see Fig. 6). The slide fastener means may now be manipulated to secure the side sections in closed together relation. Centrally secured to the exterior side of the top section II is a carrying handle I. when the bag is closed, the side sections Ill-l 2 will depend from the top section II, and when the bag is. picked up by the carrying handle, the folding bar 39 will be dis-' adjacent to the top' end of the bag inpose ter r, thus allowing the folds of the contained suit to hang smoothly, and unsubjected to wrinkling or shifting movement, from the folding bar and respectively contiguous to the opposite side sectionsof the closed bag, as will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 6.

When the bag is opened with the side and top sections lying in a common plane, the same may be hung up in a closet or against a wall without removing the outer garments therefrom, thus exposing the same to air until their use is desired. 1 To this end an external suspensionloop or ring L is centrally secured to the'end periphery of the upper side section II, as-shown in the drawings. When utilizing the novel bag structure for carrying women's gowns in smoothly supported and packed condition, some modification of the garment supporting or suspendingmeans is desirable. In Fig. '7 an illustrative arrangement of such supporting and suspending means especially adapted for womens gowns and dresses is shown. In this arrangement the garment supporting means comprises a pair of laterally spaced apart notched brackets 42, having pivoted releasable keeper arms 43. The bases 44 of said brackets are pocket 41 will depend therefrom, as shown more secured to the inner side of said upper side sec.- tion ll adjacent to its free end, and at the portion thereof which is stiffened by the reeniorcing strip l4. Removably mountable on and to extend between said bracket 42 are one or more dress hanger rods 45 having coupling studs 46 project,- ing from their-ends to engage notches of said brackets. The dresses are folded over the rods so as to'depend therefrom in smoothly extending relation to and contiguous to the interior surfaces of the main body. The folding bar 39' is utilized to hold the central portions of the thus suspended dresses to fold-the same, when the side sections of the main body are closed together, much in the manner and with the same general effects already described.

In order to afford provision for carrying in the bag other articles of clothing and miscellaneous articles, in addition to the suspended and folded outer garments above mentioned, a pouch-like receptacle or pocket 41 of suitable shape is provided. Preferably this receptacle or pocket 41 is furnished with a cover flap 48 for closing the same. Any suitable means may be provided for detachably suspending the receptacle or pocket 41 from a point adjacent to the top section II, so that the same is disposed between the depending folds of the suspended and folded outer garments. The most convenient and consequently the preferable manner of suspending the receptacle or pocket 41 in such disposition is to provide the same with a transverse loop 4! through which the folding bar I! is engaged, whereby,

when said folding bar is operatively mounted and especially in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. I

The novel bag structure per se may be utilized without outer garment supporting and folding means, and consequently as portable carrier for general use, thus providing in connection with.

suchuse the advantages incident to its frameless structure, light weight and novel bottom opening 7 form whereby it maybe laid out flat when open.

.In such case, the external shapeof the v be modified fromthe above-described upwardly tapered form to a more or less rectangiilal'fform able means to form compartments in connection therewith, as e. g. the partitions ll. a

We are aware that many changes could be made in .the above described constructions, and

that apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof; consequently it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:-

1. A traveling bag, comprising a unitary main body consisting of hingedly interioined side and top sectionsadapted when the bag is opened to extend in a common plane, but wherein said side sections are folded relative. to said top section and toward one anotherto close the bag, said side sections having marginal portions to form bottom and end walls of the bag when closed, said marginal portions having releasable cooperable means to fasten the bag closed, garment supporting means, means within and adjacent to the free end of one side section for detachably mountin said garment supporting means whereby garments suspended therefrom will extend along and contiguous to the interior surfaces of said side and top sections, "a detachable folding means adapted to be mounted across the portions of the suspended garments contiguous to said top section and over which the garments will fold so as to depend therefrom when the side sections are turned to bag closing relation, and retaining means amxed to said top section to receive and support said folding means.

2. A traveling bag, comprising a unitary main body consisting of hingedly interjoined side and top sections adapted when the bag is opened to extend in a common plane, but wherein said side sections are foldable relative to said top section and toward one another to close the bag, said side sections having marginal portions to form bottom and end walls of the bag when closed, said ed garments contiguous to said top section and over which the garments will fold so'as to de-- pend therefrom when the side sections are turned 'to bag closing relation, retaining means aflixed to said top section to receive said folding means and an auxiliary receptacle for disposition between the depending portions of the suspended and folded garments within the bag interior.

3. A traveling bag, comprising a unitary main body consisting of hingedly interjoined side and top sections adapted when the bag is opened to extend in a common plane, but wherein said side sections are foldabie downwardly relative to said top section and toward one another to close the bag. said side sections having marginal portions to form bottom and end walls of the bag when closed, slide fastener means for joining the free meegng edges of said marginal. members in secured closed. together condition when said side. sections are in closed relation, garment supporting means, means within and adjacent to the free end of one side section for detachably mounting said garment su porting means whereby garments supported therefrom will extend along and contiguous to the interior surfaces of said side and top sections, a removable folding bar, means at the inner side of said top section for detachably and adjustably securing said folding bar by its. ends across the suspended garments to fold the latter along a line parallel and adjacent to the inner side ofsaid top section and so that opposite end portions of the garments will depend from said bar when said side sections are turned to bag closing relation, and a carrying handle mounting said garment supporting means wherecentrally mounted on the exterior face of said top section.

4. A traveling bag, comprising a unitary main body consisting of hingedly interjoined side and top sections adapted when the bag is opened to extend in a common plane, but wherein said side sections are foldable downwardly relative to said top section and toward one another to close the bag, said side sections having marginal portions to form bottom and end walls of the bag when closed, slide fastener means for joining the free meeting edges of said marginal members in secured closed together condition when said side sections are in closed relation, garment supporting means, means within and adjacent to the free end of one side section for detachably mounting said garment supporting means whereby garments supported therefrom will extend along and contiguous to the interior surfaces of said side and top sections, a removable folding bar, means at the inner side, of said top section for detachably and adiustably securing said foldingbar by its ends across the suspended garments to fold the latter along a line parallel and adjacent to the inner side of said top section andso that opposite end portions of the garments will depend from said bar when said side sections are turned to bag closing relation, a carrying handle centrally mounted on the exterior face of said topsection, and an auxiliary receptacle for disposition betwee'n the depending portions of the suspended and folded garments within the bag interior.

. 5. A traveling bag, comprising a unitary main body consisting of hingedly interjoined side and top sections adapted when the bag is opened to extend in a commonplane, but wherein said side sections are foldable downwardly relative to said top section and toward one another to close the by garments supported therefrom will extend along and contiguous to the interior surfaces of said side and top sections, a removable folding bar, means at the inner side of said top section for detachably securing said folding bar across the suspended garments to fold the latter along a line parallel and adjacent to the inner side of said top section and so that opposite end portions of the garments will depend from said bar when said side sections are turned to bag closing relation, a carrying handle centrally mounted on the exterior face of said top section, an auxiliary receptacle, and means to suspend said receptacle [from said folding bar.

'6. In a traveling bag, a stiffened top section and side membersextending oppositely from the lateral margins thereof and being downwardly foldable relative thereto into closed together relation, slide fastener means for Joining the opposed marginal portions of said side members in closed together relation, garment supporting means transversely disposed within one side'member adjacent to its free end, a demountable garment folding bar adjacent to the interior side of said top section and intermediate said side members, and retaining means amxed to said top section to receive and support said folding bar.

7. In a traveling bag, a stifiened top section and side members extending oppositely from lateral margins thereof and being downwardly foldable relative thereto into closed together relation,'slide fastener means for joining the opposed marginal portions of -said side members in closed together relation, garment hanger means demountably supported within one side member adjacent to its free end, a demountable garment folding bar adjacent to the interior side of said top section and intermediate said side members, and retaining means aiilxed to said top section to receive and support said folding bar, and a carryin handle centrally mounted on the exterior face of said top section.

8. In a traveling bag, a stiffened top section and side members extending oppositely from lateral margins thereof and being downwardly foldable relative thereto into closed together relation, slide fastener means for joining the opposed marginal portions of said side members in closed together relation, garment hanger means demountably supported within one side member adjacent to its free end, a demountable garment folding bar adjacent to the interior side of said top section and intermediate said side members. and retaining means affixed to said top section to receive and support said folding bar, a carrying handle centrally mounted on the exterior face of said top section, an auxiliary receptacle, and means to suspend said receptacle from said demountable folding bar whereby the same is removable from the bag therewith.

9. A traveling bag, comprising a main body arranged to fold along a medial line to form closed together side members capable of being opened out into a common flat plane, a garment hanger means demountably supported with one side member adjacent to its free end, a garment folding and supporting means movabh related to said main body in adjusted spaced relation to the interior side of the medial line of fold thereof, and means to hold said side members in closed together relation.

10. A traveling bag, comprising a main body arranged to fold along a medial line to form closed together side members capable of being opened out into a common flat plane, a garment hanger demountably supported within one side member adjacent to its free end, a garment folding means, means to detachably support said folding means in opposed and adjusted spaced relation to the interior side of the medial fold of said main body, whereby garment portions folded thereby are clamped between said medial fold of said main body and said folding means, means to engage said side members in closed together relation, and a carrying handle secured to the exterior side of the medial fold of said main body 11. In a traveling bag, a main body arranged to fold along a medial portion to form closed together side members cafible of being opened out into a substantially flat common plane, a garinto a substantially flat common plane, a dement folding and supporting means movably retachable garment folding and supporting rod. lated to said mainbody in adjusted spaced and means to attach said rod in spaced opposed relaopposed relation to the interior side of the medial tion to the interior side of the medial portion or portion thereof, and means to hold said side memsaid main body, and slide fastener means for join-- bers in closed together relation. ing the free marginal portions of the main body 12. In a traveling bag, a main body arranged to side members in secured closed together relation. told along a medial portion to form closed to- MARTIN L. LEE.

gether side members capable of being opened out ARY KAUFMANN. 

